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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1999-01-20, Page 1Your Community Newspaper,Since 1860 Seaforth, Ontario January 20, 1999 - $1 00 includes GST Few complaints as snowmobilers use new route through Seaforth • ,BY SCOTT I•IiLGENDORFF Expositor Editor The towns new approach to soowmobiling seems to he working out with a minimal amount .of complaints coming in as more -and -more snowmobilers come through town. "l think. it's working out paid Ron William. son. He is a•local snowmohiler whip was among a group of area enthusiasts among, organize a new trail route through town in efforts to remedy concerns resulting from ,t, new town bylaw being dratted to comptetely han,snowmobiles in town last month.. :The• few complaints come at a -time when trail users and :Operators are saying there are .more snowmobiles than ever on local trails. Mayor -Dave Scott told council at its Jan. 12 meeting, sthat he -received a couple complaints about snowmobiles in town,_ .One complaint was -shout` :snow -mobiles going up and down West William Street until'2 a.m. -when local bars dose. ,• . Other snowmobilers are• - still using the original route which takes them on Victoria: and East William Street. Proposed changes to the - town's snowmobile route led to a debate at council about whe're it would go. The debate- resulted in a decision to completely ban them from e ore a bylaw could be written, council reconsidered :'Everyone's"using -it. pretty a ban early, last month and • well," said Williantson. decided to allow 'a route with Local snowmobilers .are .the - undelMan.ding_heepulg-w,atch chat -the -trail -is • snowmobiles ,are to. take the :used properly with little most direct- route in and out tnt'etterence to Seaforth' of town when .accessing local residents. Nervices. J .Williainsun said he hasn't • Area enthusiasts proposed seen ;any tracks on people's the new.route, checked with lawns, one ut the issues esid(nis who would he raised. hy those upporting a affected cby the traffic can snowmobile hat. their street and built a bridge While area simwritubtlers oyer, Silver.` Creek to bring developed -the new trail plan snowmobiles into the east-on•iheir own. they represent end ottown. .. - area clubs including the Pine And the -new trail is getting kidr:c. inowmoolle Club Dorothea Williamson and aohn Feeney take • a rut at '•the . recently constructed. bridge across Silver Creek. 'The. • ',bridge is part of a new route that connects Seaforth to ttie . provincial snowmobile trail system ' • HILGENDORFF PHOTO •i use. lust a "t:ew weeks into, 'January. Williamsop said this ` . season is one of -the hest rn the past few years. Sg[is :are up along the trail at two edges of town alerting riders of wdhat services are available for them in town, like -food and gas. There are more signs coming that will show the mute more clearly. which paying tin- the S1.;000 bridge into Seaforth. which was ' built hy;arca snowmobilers: One concern that remain is the tnedia attention the. - town') original :haw received. . Because •ot • the 'controversy: stories_ about the- decision to,'. have a -ban' were carried outside .the Seaforth. • Ian. 12 ttieetin�. Count. Michael Hak.s_aid \,rchie'j Service Centre had more than 200 through. for gas on .i recent weekend, John Hunt of classics Cafe. located'along the new. route, said-tnore than 100 snowmohilers had stopped there last Saturday. He's keeping i count and said the new trail is definitely ,nasset. "Quite often, we've got 10 . or .12 tsnowmohilersl in here." he said. with the most coming through ip the mornings, later atinight and on the weekends. - The amount of husiness snowmohilers hring• into -own was one of the issues ;ailed against a total ban. • of- the two complaints Scott received, 'another was in regards'to a snowmobiler ittl this 'idewalk on Main Street near the Train tracks. Scott_ said the,iierson making ,the complaint was able io Nock The snowrnobiler's path nil storm the driver.that he- could be :charged ,for being there: ,. Scott checked with OPP .about what • hyl_aw enforcetpent_can -be done abiittt snowmobilers. The only two. ways a snowtnobiler-can he charged is' for -driving on sidewalks and for driving them in town between the hours. of 1.2 midnight and 7 a.m. - Unless.a police officer i,s right_ there •to catch them ,Scott said there isn't, much •that •can_ be done when a - bylaw is violated. , - community. . - The fine.forriding. on a The fact the .decision' was sidewalk is S28.50._ changed has not received. the In regards to'the complaint ._same attention. and'- Scott told about snowmobiles coming counetl-some•--people reTnotH--to .uttl-irom bars after"the 12_ aware•Sealorth is .accessiblea.tn..curtew.: Scott said it .through the trail s\stem. couldn't •he.difftcult for .1he .:Hsi` • • .aid local police ti+ ee snow'ritobiles. snowmobilers ;ire trying to parked outside ;in areii har get• • the': word out :and : and get them 'at closing time,. Williamson said it seems to atter the curfew. he spreading hy the volume ot. snowinubilers coating through. "I've definitely noticed :in ' Robtnet suggested maps- could he posted at. the-olal:es snowmobilers go, showing the most direct . routes increase in the. -number of . through town and asking snowmobiles -in town. ` said 'hem to protect citizens' Cotut. Heather Robinet ..0 the • tahts: Delays in board office construction Supplies being shipped south because of CS dollar cause frustrations BY scorr HILGENDORFF Expositor Editor The price of the American dollar, a skylight being run over and uchi:rdiT'ftcutt'1t<5 have resulted in construction delays at the. combined Avon .Maitland District School Board headquarters and Seaforth District High School. • . "We've • had • some interesting .challenges," said Janet Baird -Jackson of the board's senior administration. The. hoard moved roost of. its operattuns from Stratford and• Clinton to_tite high school in Vovem r after a rnajor•ponion.of renovations were • completed to accommodate the new headquarters. That meant :major -changes to the aructure of the school from the front ponion of the building and school library to the • basement and- rear entrances. The first phase of the project was supposed to be completed late last year which included external• work to the huiidin.g and ,i new front toyer. • But- the- United Stater.: dollar has attracted suppliers of sus;hl.items_ as steel fOr outside walls and shipments have .been going south instead, of . t� Canadian • customers. In'addition to not receiving shipments two skylights on order, one. for the foYer that was supposed to be finished weeks ago: were expected on Dec. 29. However, one was rim user by a lift truck. There were troubles with the glaztng for the skylights that were supposed to be here last Friday until the glazing exploded: because it tate was. top..lhin. • Baird -Jackson said it's; been a frustrating experience for the board and local contractors. Steel for the trim outside the school didn't arrive until the cold, weather tet in making i -t both uncomfortable ,and dangerous for workers to CONTINUED on Page) Council taking lead in liquor hearing prepartions Mayor Dave Scott will arrange ;t meeting with seven other objectors to the Seaforth and District Community Centres application for a liquor licence. The town and several other groups and people, including the RIA and owners of the town's licenced restaurants and bars, sent objections to the provincial gaming commission after learning the arena wanted to serve alcohol. A hearing will take place Feb. 11 where both objectors and the arena will present their sides of the issue before the commission will decide whether or not a licence will he granted. ' Scott said he spoke with Jason Wheatly, owner of The Commercial Hotel and au objector to the arena's licence, and they weren't clear whether or not everyone would be allowed to speak at the hearing or how it would unfold. Clerk Administrator Jack McLachlan said one person should be nominated to speak and question witnesses against the application. He said the process would he much like a court case with lawyers presented each case, questioning witnesses and cross examining them. if you visualize, this will he just like a court of law, he said. it looks like I'll have to sit down with everyone who has an objection, said Scott. Coon. Michael Hak said Scott should come back to council at one of two meetings before the hearing, after establishing everyone's concerns. Scott said he would make a report at the next meeting. PUC staff, worked hard and fast to find and repair a break on East William Street Thursday moming. HILOENDORFF PHOTO - Fire call leads' AUC to:broken:: water main . By SCOTT HILGO ENDRFF • ExptiSitQr Editor - A fire Call alerted Seaforth Public. -Utilities Commission staff to a`water main .break on East William Street early Thursday mooting. ' Tota Phillip's; manager of -the PUC and a'member of the Seaforth Fire Department. said the, department was called to :tri -Ear-William-:St'reertiome-'where--waterin-tate-tsasenrent :bad shorted out electrical equipment. Meanwhile. lolin 1 orresi: public works superintendent for the town whc- liies. in ihat area, had noticed .water flowing down the street. • _ • , .When the tire call _situation: was resolved; Phillips cflled P.UC staff to look' alter the problem of water getting into the home. ' Around 3•a -an. Thursday . morning. OWP 'Constable. Dave Dale saw snore water pooling on/the street and PUC staff was called -out again: • • • The ottani waterline was.shut down later in the.tnoming and staff used special hsteaing equipmeht to. track_the.sound of leaking. water to the source ,it the intersection of East Williams Street and .Side ,Street. ' ;It was repaired and water was turned hack on at noon." said Phillips. ' He said it wasfonunate they were able to locate the break as easily as they did. Because of [cost, where'the water was found bubbling into the street was further away from the leak. •' Philips said the water will flow until it reaches a place where it Lon get.past the frost. • . . "Where it was coming up on Side Street. we knew there was no water main'.=•-he-saidr Staff'used--the-listening equipment to follow the sbund of the water until it was at its loudest and dug- a hole in the street finding the leak right • away. • . Only residents in the immediate area were -affected hy the break. . While there's no clear eauk.'for it, Philips said frost is the likely contributor. •While the frost has not gone deep,it could have gone far enough to put pressure on a rock. sitting on the water main. The additional pressure of traffic pushes the frost and rocks deeper. Manhole covers also allow frost to penetrate deeper around them and a cover was located near the break. Phillips is not too concerned about frost this winter although the recent sunshine also pushes frost deeper. But this year, there is a good cover of snow which helps provide insulation and reduces the amount of frost and could help reduce problems of breaks or water line freezes. "I never worry about it until it happens," said Philips. "We don't normally. have a lot. There's times we've gone the winter and had none." ' in his 33 years here, he. estimates there have been between 20 and 25 water main breaks. Extra sleeves of different sizes, used to patch the leaks, are kept in stock for the varying sizes of water lines so the PUC is prepared fcany breaks. • "We'll take them as they come," he said, adding, "That's what weather does." • •